ROKUJURO

Patrick, have a look at genuine KACHUSHI TSUBA and study their dimensions and properties. They are very different from your TSUBA, as they tend to be large, very thin, and many have a pronounced MIMI (DOTE and UCHIKAESHI). Also, they are much older than yours.

It would also be quite big in diameter for KANAYAMA which is rather rare. But it may be a later OWARI province TSUBA, and a nice one. I like it. Concerning the surface, it might have seen some corrosion or even fire in its early life, but built up a nice patina later. Part of the design might be KAN (TANSU drawers) where one little piece is missing. If it was omitted on purpose, you will probably find no traces left.

Bryce, t is not necessarily a SAMURAI family MON. In these later times, also normal citizen were allowed to carry a MON.

MEI looks like KANEMASA, but it is very probably not handmade. The yellow painted numbers are just assembly marks.

Mixed Martial Arts has them also?

I assumed you were practicing SUMO.....

MAWASHI, did you try looking for HARUYOSHI? It seems the name appears at SUGIYAMA's knife shop for KAMIZORI: Knife store Sugiyama: Haruyoshi Japan 剃刀(かみそり). Your DEBA knife needs a lot of attention. There are tutorials on YouTube on how to restore it. By the way, is MAWASHI your real name?

Eric, just read a little: http://www.shibuiswords.com/SandArtTsu.html http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10377 https://tsuba.jyuluck-do.com/NaraSchool.html https://tsuba.jyuluck-do.com/Assortment.html#regional

Ken, I have the impression that he made a joke without giving it a smiley.

Perhaps KAO? But the spacing is not o.k.

Peter, the pictures don't show enough to make a guess. As Stephen said, close-ups of the NAKAGO (not nagako) would help. The SAYA looks dubious and while it makes an impression of an army item as well as the TSUKA, it is probably not genuine. In any case, this is not a blade I would consider to buy as the KISSAKI seems to be heavily damaged.

I'm always seeing grotesque faces, not only in the clouds,......

Yes, of course PURE copper! But very probably none of these methods can make the rust spot disappear without trace! Together with regular inspection and frequent (very light) oiling It is just a try to prevent the rust from spreading.

Ben, there is a way to try to remove the rust spot with a pointed piece of ivory, bone or antler. A thin piece of pure copper will also work. These materials are softer than the steel of the blade and won't leave scratches. In case you are not successful, there remains only the TOGISHI!

Bill, you have some data in the NBTHK HOZON paper. Detailed information on the artist may only be found in special literature. Considering the colour of the metal, the plate probably isn't SHINCHU (brass), but looks more like YAMAGANE (raw copper), but that may be the photo.

Chris, that does not look like a MEI to me.

Brian, don't tell them that it is probably longer, they could raise the price!

Ray, I can't see YOSHIMASA. Could it be YOSHIKANE?

Dwain, I have the impression that this discussion is going nowhere, but let me add a few subject related points: Your sturdy WAKIZASHI has some minor FUKURE That could mean for the future of the otherwise beautiful blade that another polish could end up in big open FUKURE. It is probably an unsigned SHINTO blade, and swordsmiths of that period normally signed their work unless they didn't feel that it represented their level of quality. So your blade may indeed have some hidden flaws. In my eyes this would be a point to really keep the blade intact. And don't tell us that a sturdy blade cannot be damaged! There are so many report about that! Second: Don't put an oiled blade back in the SAYA! Dust will gather on the blade and cause longitudinal scratches. I have never felt the sensation of a 'bloodthirsty blade'. I like the many sword related myths and stories that are told in Japan, but I think your poetry is carrying you away. Stay on the ground, it is simply the best cutting weapon you can have, but nothing more

Dwain, it is TAMESHIGIRI, and they are not bamboo mats, but should be TATAMI OMOTE. Please refrain from doing it again! I know, it is yours, and you could do with it what you want, but please do not promote it then. This is not the way we understand caring for and preserving an art sword.

It is a common design feature that makes sense in the use.

Dwain, looks quite nice, congrats! It should be positioned cutting edge up on the KATANA-KAKE, the same way it is worn in the OBI.

'Machined steel' is quite different from 'machine steel'. The first is related to a working process, the latter is an industrial material. These two should not be confounded. Any kind of HADA is a result of repeated folding and welding the steel.

Bob, there is no similarity, I am afraid.

Dwain, it is 'Connoisseur', the same word as in French.